Anyone have trouble getting decent 16.5 Tires for your Bump?

[taxreliever]

So, I want to find some decent 33's to 35's for my new/old rig, but the 16.5 is throwing all my local tire guys off and they're quoting big bucks....also, nothing on the private seller market!

I want a nice decent winter tire that doesn't look too streetish...any suggestions?

I was also told that the knobby aggressive tires on there now are horrible in snow.

Thanks,

 

[LEB Ben]

Alot of guys will tell you they're difficult to find...tires with a 16.5" rim are all I've ever run. And while the selection may not be as plentiful (hence the reason some guys make the switch to 16's or 17's) they are out there. If you want to keep it local go to a dedicated 4x4/offroad shop, I have 2 in my area that I use all the time.


The next way to go, but you'll have to deal with shipping (should be under $129 for the set though) is to go online. Summit is where I'd go first, and they price match. Next would be 4wheelparts...they even have some brick and mortars, dunno if they're close to you though. I'd also give National wheel and Tire a look, and maybe even Desert Rat. If you're considering military surplus, check out the 100dollarman.

Finally, scrounge your local 4x4/offroad boards...they always have stuff in the classifieds. And if you're hanging particularly low, give Pirate a looksee...they're the largest 4x4 board on the net, but no newbie/dumb questions or you'll get flamed to high hell.

As for tire traction...I think I'll leave that to someone like Lee or Buck or whoever else is running big tires and lives in snow. But what I will say is siping is king for extra biting edges. That said, while in the mountains or in Wisconsin or even when we get ice, I've never had an issue because of my tires...but I don't have better equipped snow tire to compare against.

 

[taxreliever]

Alot of guys will tell you they're difficult to find...tires with a 16.5" rim are all I've ever run. And while the selection may not be as plentiful (hence the reason some guys make the switch to 16's or 17's) they are out there. If you want to keep it local go to a dedicated 4x4/offroad shop, I have 2 in my area that I use all the time.


The next way to go, but you'll have to deal with shipping (should be under $129 for the set though) is to go online. Summit is where I'd go first, and they price match. Next would be 4wheelparts...they even have some brick and mortars, dunno if they're close to you though. I'd also give National wheel and Tire a look, and maybe even Desert Rat. If you're considering military surplus, check out the 100dollarman.

Finally, scrounge your local 4x4/offroad boards...they always have stuff in the classifieds. And if you're hanging particularly low, give Pirate a looksee...they're the largest 4x4 board on the net, but no newbie/dumb questions or you'll get flamed to high hell.

As for tire traction...I think I'll leave that to someone like Lee or Buck or whoever else is running big tires and lives in snow. But what I will say is siping is king for extra biting edges. That said, while in the mountains or in Wisconsin or even when we get ice, I've never had an issue because of my tires...but I don't have better equipped snow tire to compare against.

Thanks Ben....I'll keep an eye out and do some research from the sites you suggested.

If you're saying that your tires are working fine in the snow, that's all I care about. I'm not commuting long distances or anything....but the PO told me this rig, with the TSL Grabbers was all over the road and he had a difficult time keeping it there when it snowed, so I thought they were just no good for what I need this rig to do for me.

Hopefully, like you said, some of the other fellas can comment and give me some suggestions.

But not a lot of offroad shops up in my neck of the woods.

Thanks man...appreciate it!

 

[Evan's f250]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...O&GCID=C13674x012-tire&partnum=325R65ATAKORWL

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...GCID=C13674x012-tire&partnum=525R65ATAKORWLV2

thats about all i could find, ebay also has the same tires, but seemed to be just a bit more expensive.

 

[Evan's f250]

http://www.bigotires.com/Tire-Results-By-Size/35/12.5/16.5

heres a tire shop, i dnt know if you have any of these in your area

I believe you were wanting new? tires are expensive, I know I couldnt afford new ones lol. I usually buy off of craiglist and swap shops.

looks like that type of thing might have some in your area also?

also, I dnt know how the swamper type tires do in snow, but mud terrian /ATseem to do decent in snow

 

[mustangtoby]

I had a set of swampers on my bronco, and they were bad on snowpack but not unlivable. I went to a set of BFG KM2's and haven't had any problems whatsoever. They aren't as good as snow tires, but with lockers and a super short wheelbase I haven't had any trouble. I wouldn't sweat the Swampers unless you're gonna do a lot of highway driving in the snow. The longer wheelbase helps a lot, and like Ben said, get them siped and it will make a world of difference. Most of the local shops around here will sipe them for about $10 each, so it's not to costly. I know rock crawlers who sipe for rock crawling, and it is supposed to give you longer tire life too. Might be worth a try.

 

[taxreliever]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...O&GCID=C13674x012-tire&partnum=325R65ATAKORWL

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...GCID=C13674x012-tire&partnum=525R65ATAKORWLV2

thats about all i could find, ebay also has the same tires, but seemed to be just a bit more expensive.

Thanks a bunch man.....a little more than I want to spend for what I'm going to be using it for, but just may splurge on it...if my use is minimal, they should last for many years I suppose.

http://www.bigotires.com/Tire-Results-By-Size/35/12.5/16.5

heres a tire shop, i dnt know if you have any of these in your area

I believe you were wanting new? tires are expensive, I know I couldnt afford new ones lol. I usually buy off of craiglist and swap shops.

looks like that type of thing might have some in your area also?

also, I dnt know how the swamper type tires do in snow, but mud terrian /ATseem to do decent in snow

Nothing in my neck of the woods.....I saw some on ebay that might work, again, just not sure about how they would be in the snow....will have to talk to some tire guys I guess.

 

[taxreliever]

I had a set of swampers on my bronco, and they were bad on snowpack but not unlivable. I went to a set of BFG KM2's and haven't had any problems whatsoever. They aren't as good as snow tires, but with lockers and a super short wheelbase I haven't had any trouble. I wouldn't sweat the Swampers unless you're gonna do a lot of highway driving in the snow. The longer wheelbase helps a lot, and like Ben said, get them siped and it will make a world of difference. Most of the local shops around here will sipe them for about $10 each, so it's not to costly. I know rock crawlers who sipe for rock crawling, and it is supposed to give you longer tire life too. Might be worth a try.

Ohhhh sweet....no highway driving here....so maybe the swampers will be fine!

I'm going to call around and see about getting them siped. Thanks!